Omaha Vacation 2009/Camp Coholo

This is what you get for 50 bucks at fun plex, but Emma and Gavin were all smiles.

We are home. We are exhausted, but we are home. Why is it that you always need "a vacation from your vacation"? We had a great time in Omaha. The only bad thing is that we NEVER have enough time, we never get to see everyone we want to see, and after we leave the girls are always ready to pack up our house and move to Omaha. Isn't that funny?

I, of course, did not take NEAR enough photos. Story of my l

ife. I think I need to make my camera an extension of myself... but I never do and then I am sorry. I will work on that. I do have some good photos to share.

Some things that we did when we were in Omaha...

Abby and Maron Hogan. She loved that little girl!!

These kids had the golf pros going down the slide with all of their clothes on!

Abby went to Camp Coholo. THE whole reason we went. Camp Coholo if you are not familiar is a camp for kids with cancer and blood disorders. Abby had a fabulous time, as always, loved seeing all of her friends, getting to spend tons of time with Hannah, and Molly, Sydnee and Emma and even getting a poem and sharing a dance with a BOY. She was asked by 2 boys, but only danced with one. She thinks that next year she will be able to branch out more... This was Abby's last year at "littles camp". Next year she will move on to "bigs camp". She is ready. Abby was also on the news for Coholo in Omaha and we had some friends in Kansas see the story on headline news. I will post a link for you.

Emma loved her Mommy and me time. WE left camp and saw this funny little dog ridding on the back of a motorcycle. We thought that was a good omen for the good time we were going to have. We ran home and got our bikes and headed over to Knudsen's. We were going for a ride around Zyrinski's lake ( I know I just murdered that spelling) We decided to ride to zyrinski's, from 168th and Blondo. It was a trip. With a winey 13 year old. We went over 20 miles. When we got back, Emma and I went and got Little King, and took MAJOR NAPS! After we woke up, we ate like queens at Wheatfields and went to see the new Harry Potter. Day 2 we spent the rainy day with Darby, Gavin and Blake. We even got to have lunch with Nick! Yea! It was great to see them. We took the "bigs" to fun plex and they made some FABULOUS choices with their winnings! I threatened Emma with her life is she brought those home! Emma and Gavin always pick up right where they left off for the most part. Plans were made for them to hopefully detastle corn together next summer. Nick, Darby and I thought it would be a great idea for them! It sure was great to seen the Brion's and Knudsen's and for that alone I could move to Omaha... If only there was a job...

We got home yesterday about 4:30, unloaded, unpacked and the laundry started. Now we need to put the house back together. That is always fun! We are going to finish up our cleaning up and preparing for the week. We have lots to do this week! I will post about that later!

Enjoy the photos!

WE decided. Abby IS going to a new school. The paperwork has been filled out and turned in and we are EXCITED! WE are ready to embark on a new adventure that is really going to facilitate Abby's learning! YIPEE! I am going to put her new school's Mission Statement here. Our Mission

The mission of abc Elementary... A Magnet School is to provide a curriculum that is conducive to the 9 brain-compatible elements of the HET model and is standards-based. With a focus on the Lifelong guidelines and LIFESKILLS, all children will be empowered to work collaboratively in meaningful and engaging ways. Our Magnet programs and real-life experiences will be critical in creating connections between students and the world around them

WE are currently in Omaha, getting r ready to take Abby to Camp CoHoLo tomorrow! She is excited! Emma and I are really excited for a little Mommy and me time!! What rarity! Please watch the website www.campcoholo.org for photos of Abby and Hannah and all of her friends and what a GREAT time they are having!

Emma and I plan on a big ride around Zorinski Lake tomorrow and then a nice brunch! I love that she likes to bike as much as I do! I will try to get some photos!

13

13... I think I could just leave it there, and all of the mothers out there would go ahh, yep, I know. Even if their own children are just preschoolers, they know, as they were once 13, and they KNOW what they have coming.

I am thinking about my Christmas letter this year... (I know, Christmas in July). What will it say? I will talk about all of my 13 year olds achievements. Her big heart, her love of reading and her being asked to be on the school paper, her love of track. I will not probably mention how every time you look at her she cries, how she goes from laughing to crying in a matter of 2 seconds, how her room is a mess, and how I see the struggle between the woman she is to become and the child she still wants to be every day. I think that whoever decided that 13 was an unlucky number must have had a 13 themselves.

Decisions

Big decisions were made today at the Bridgewater house! Big, hard, decisions! We made the decision to move Abby out of the local public school into a public magnet school. We have been wanting to make a move for a while, but were not sure what the "right" move would be. We have not been able to find a private school we were happy with, but now, I think we are over the moon with this decision! Abby went from being very excited, to tearful and worried about the unknown, to very excited, as this was a move she really wanted! I think this will be good. I was not happy with the direction of our current elementary, having the 6th grade in the trailers all year, moving around from class to class or trailer to trailer. It just worries me. I was not at all worried with what I saw at her new school! I think my baby girl is going to THRIVE!!! Stay tuned! She is going for a tour on Friday!

Happy 4th of July! Posted late

Fireworks over Coor's Field! The Finale was the BEST I have seen!
Even though the clouds kept us from seeing the mountains, the view was stunning!!
The Billboard at Coor's Field. It looks blurry because of the RAIN!
Papa, Abby, Emma and Nana outside of Coor's field!

What do you do on the 4th of July when you live in Denver? Well, if you are the Bridgewater's and you have Nana and Papa visiting you are Coor's field watching the Rockies Play BASEBALL! We had a GREAT time. The afternoon started out with a delay due to RAIN! And rain it did! It was a down pour! Luckily, when it was time to play baseball, the skies cleared and, well, the Rockies... Well, they LOST. Oh well! We had a FABULOUS time anyhow! The weather was GREAT, the company was GREAT, and they did not loose for lack of our cheering!! Go ROCKIES!